Oral and Physical Function of Community-dwelling Older Adults: Improvement by Oral Health Program

Abstract

  A declining oral function is a risk factor for: frailty, need for nursing care, death, and dementia in community-dwelling older adults. Conversely, socialization, such as opportunities to go out, is important for maintaining the health of older adults.

  Therefore, as an oral health program that can be implemented in various municipalities, we provided community-dwelling older adults with a program that consisted of two nursing care-prevention classes once a month for 3 months and oral exercises including gum chewing training three times a day. The objective was to evaluate the program’s effectiveness. Before and after program implementation, we measured and evaluated oral functions, such as the dental condition and chewing ability, physical functions, such as walking speed, and lifestyle factors, including dietary intake questionnaires.

  Of the 34 participants, 32 performed oral exercises three times a day (≥66%). Participation in the program significantly improved oral function (masticatory ability, p=0.001; tongue pressure, p=0.020; number of oral frailty items, p=0.047). Significant improvements were also confirmed in physical function and food intake status (hand grip strength, p=0.005; walking speed, p=0.002; one-legged standing with eyes open, p=0.006; dietary variety score, p=0.015).

  The results of this study confirm that an oral function decline-prevention program that combines nursing care-prevention classes and oral exercises is effective not only for improving the oral condition of the elderly, but also promoting physical function and food intake.